There's a reason many said the Milwaukee Bucks landed the steal of free agency when they signed Gary Trent Jr. to a minimum deal.
Over the past couple of seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors, Trent developed into a smooth scorer and elite perimeter shooter. Adding that type of player next to Milwaukee's star duo was significant, especially on such a team-friendly deal. However, it's well-documented that the wing initially had a tough time fitting it. Lately, however, he's playing tremendous basketball, and it's been a major shot in the arm for the Milwaukee Bucks.
March has been kind to Milwaukee Bucks wing Gary Trent Jr.
In nine matchups this month, Trent is averaging 13.7 points while shooting 43.2 percent shooting, including 40.9 percent from downtown. That scoring average slots Trent as the third leading scorer on the Milwaukee Bucks this month, trailing only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. It's clear that the team is seeking a consistent third scoring option, and Trent is building a case.
A significant reason for Trent's spring success is his increased aggressiveness. This month, he is heaving 10.6 field goals, including 7.3 triple tries, per game. His previous season-highs for individual months this season were 9.7 field goal and 5.8 perimeter attempts. The Milwaukee Bucks have been lacking an offensive punch, and Trent has answered the call.
Looking closer, Trent's ability to score has largely come from him simply thriving in his role as one of the most lethal catch-and-shoot players in the NBA. Trent has been one of the best catch-and-shoot players in March, knocking down 45.9 percent of his tries. Among players to attempt at least 50 such shots, Trent's percentage ranks fourth in the entire NBA. He's been flat-out excellent.
One obvious solution to keeping Trent hot is to continue having him play alongside Giannis, a player who commands so much attention from opposing defenses, leaving shooters open. This month, the red-hot wing is shooting 8-of-15 (53.3 percent) on his 3-point tries off passes from the Greek Freak. These two should be a staple pairing under Doc Rivers.
As one of the first players off the Milwaukee Bucks' bench, Gary Trent Jr. has to provide this type of spark on a nightly basis. As evidenced by Milwaukee's recent win over the Los Angeles Lakers, where Trent poured in 23 points after making six 3-pointers, he has undeniable third-fiddle potential that could be the boost the Milwaukee Bucks have been seeking lately.
He's playing like the player many believed was the biggest steal of NBA Free Agency. If he can keep playing this well down the stretch, he's going to earn himself a much larger check this summer once he enters free agency once again.
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